By Nameless 

The New Year ironically is usually greeted in retrospective.  With numerous magazines coming out with lists like: The 10 Best Dressed of 98, 10 Biggest Film Hits to remember that Year of the Tiger.  Take the Top 10 Worst Things in 1998.  I don't know exactly what people would put in this list.  Maybe other people might fill up the list with the Asian economic crisis, Erap being elected president, or even Clare Dane's remark.  One of the 
things which will enter the list of some members of the LM would be: No. 1 "Climb Mt. Pulag in December during La Niña."  (It would probably enter the top 10 stupidest things to do in 1998 as well.) 

At the induction party/pre-climb meeting in the middle of the semester break, Gabby Dizon and Gabby Narciso were chuckling when someone announced that there would be an end of the year climb to Mount Pulag.  They found it ridiculous that there would be Mountaineers crazy enough to climb the 2nd highest peak in the Philippines and the highest in Luzon during the coldest time of the year. 

Well, eight wacky Loyola Mountaineers collected on December 27 at 4 AM in 456 restaurant in Bagiuo City to join twenty-one PAL mountaineers.  They were Jenny "Amazon" Atienza, Jaja "gaga" Reyes, Nick "the quick" Tobia, Ching-I "Buddha's disciple" Wang, Gabby "Care Bear" Narciso, Caloy "quick-as-well" Tobia, Gabby "Gabo" Dizon and Harry "The Actor" Pasimio. 

To give an overview of the climb here are Chito of PAL Mountaineers' notes: Climb covered 3 mountains-Mt. Panatoan (2,422 M ASL), Mt. Pulag (2,922 M ASL), and Mt. Babadak (2,589 M ASL).  To reach the jump-off point, we took a 6-hour bus ride to Baguio and another 6-hour jeepney ride in the mountainous roads of Benguet.  Average temperature was 12 degrees C, manageable if not for the intermittent rains and gusty winds. 

Why maybe one may ask it would enter the list of the Top 10 worst things to do in 1998?  Well here are 10 reasons why. 

#10 The Bus Ride 
From those at least coming from Manila rode the 10 PM Victory liner bus which was actually a very pleasant ride.  That is until the Bus driver probably to keep himself (and while he was at the whole bus as well) awake with the music of "the best of Aaron Carter" and, then best of pinoy rock which had lyrics like; "Kapag kasama kita-gumagwapo ako."  He blasted his music loudly inside, it was Harry who eventually lowered it during one of 
the bathroom stops.  The eyes of those who rode the bus blinked tears of sleepiness.  But in these moments these eyes caught glimpses of what they hoped to see.  Fueled by memories of pictures brought back, they took heart and tried to get as much sleep as they could.  I guess this wasn't so bad but I think the mountaineers should have taken it as a sign.  A foreshadowing of the discomfort yet to come. 

#9 The Jeep Ride to the Drop off Point 
After waiting for quite a bit, the two jeepneys arrived to fetch the 29 climbers.  The jeeps were loaded up and the six hour trip to the drop off point began.  At first the mood was "high" with Harry and Jaja singing the Weezer album song by song soon though all singing stopped and actions were held to very minimal as the jeep "shook up" the passengers by rocking back and forth through the dust roads.  Leaving their senses Undone-the jeepney song.  But the violent shakes was just the tip of the iceberg as layers and layers of dust began to settle on its passengers.  Making many looking like old men and women with white hair.  On the way a couple of Jeep problems turned up (aside from the occasional 
wee-wee breaks and dust offs).  There was also a problem of the Drivers worrying about getting back to Baguio City before becoming too dark.  So, they brought us as close as they could which entailed some walking while the jeep took the bags for the last part of the ride. 

#8 The Pacing of the PAL Mountaineers 
When the group arrived at the drop off point.  They all had a quick lunch by the lake, which produced a great double rainbow.  It was a fairy-tale beginning for everyone.  Then the trekking to the village began.  Soon, most of the PAL mountaineers over took the LM members.  Which was how the order remained throughout the rest of the trip.  (LM would have to wake up earlier to pack up and the like to keep up.)  On the first day the mountaineers trekked to Tawangan where the group would be able to stay overnight in a school room which was great because that was one day that they did not have to set up the tents. 

#7 Communal Mess Kits 
To save more time communal mess kits and utensils was born.  The LM had their meals in a more bonding way.  As Jenny's fork and spoon floated around.  Gabby's plastic tumbler soon became a cooked rice case.  The things will just be tossed around.  "Take one down, pass it around." 

#6 Wet Socks 
Aside from sharing food, mess kits, and saliva (from using the same spoons), the LM members also shared the cold feeling of putting on the wet socks of yesterday and thanks to the weather the perpetually wet shoes.  Cold feelings are brought to a new level after taking 4 squishing steps in mud.  And nice new socks stay dry for about 2 seconds.  Also in connection to wet socks on the last night in the plateau.  Gabby D. suffered greatly as his sleeping bag was discovered to be wet and had to needed body heat from Harry and Caloy to keep him warm that night.  Which consequentially kept Harry awake by Gabby's chattering. 

#5 Equipment Problems 
It was raining the whole time and along the way to make matters worse some important equipment broke down.  It was realized that the less people who climb, the higher probability for things to go wrong in the sense of having a "lack off."  Caloy's flashlight broke in the jeepney ride.  Then Jenny's Bag broke by the shoulder straps.  Then Ching's shoes broke to be patched up with rope and strings.  Then some straps of Jaja's bag (which the group realized later on was self-contained) gave way on the way to plateau. 

#4 Trekking at Night and Irritations 
Aside from having some equipment problems on the second day of trekking (which was incidentally the longest day), the group left the school at around seven in the morning.  Had lunch at a river with ice cold water.  This was also where jugs were filled up.  During this 10-hour trek the group unfortunately hit nightfall taking out flashlights to begin set-ups. 
To share with the reader the type of irritation we had let me share some quotes: 
Since Caloy was not yet there, irrational behaviors Nick said to Gabby D. 
"Nasaan si Caloy?" 
Gabby D: "Nasa likod ko." 
Nick T: "Iniwanan mo?" 
Gabby D: "Oo." 
Nick T: "BAKIT!"  As if Nick had a right (NOTE Gabby D. was not the Tailman.) 
Ching: "Don't you remember the MODULES!  We must re-evaluate membership." 

Our little camp on the trail became "Sungit City."  Miserable is probably the best word to describe the evening. 

#3 Limatics (Like Automatic) 
A major irritation aside from that evening of the 2nd day was that it was also the day the Lematics (leech like creatures) were discovered.  Alcohol was abundant only at the stops so on the trek we had to take it out with hands only to find it sucking on our finger.  Squashing these 1/2 inch wonders was out of the question as they would only slip through our fingers. 
 

1. 1. The dinner of that hell evening had a special spice as it was discovered to find a cooked Lematic in the Adobo.
2. 2. In the morning while packing up Gabby N. discovered one at his ear and quickly removed it causing a bloody mess as a result.
3. 3. Harry also discovered on thinking it was a nosebleed but only to find a wound at his neck.  He also wins the biggest-lematic-to-suck-my-blood award.
4. 4. A family of Limatics (all size ranges) welcomed Jaja and Ching when they had to pee in the dampened forest.
5. 5. Jenny deceivers to be mentioned being the most frequently visited by the Limatics among the LM.

#1 The View 
 Finally, one may think that this would be the redeeming factor, the saving grace of the climb.  As the cliché line goes "I've trekked long and hard but the view was worth it."  This was one of the motivational factors pushing a lot of climbers.  The view from Mt. Pulag was supposedly magnificent.  Well, because of the weather there was only fog after the 30 minute run-walk to the peak.  Others have requested that beside their picture a witness to sign: That is the peak. 

  
Photo by TJ Gonzalez 

Awful you might think. 

This may sound like a cop out answer but let me share with you this idea.  Life isn't really about what you get out of it in the end, it pays more attention to what you may become at the end.  Those ten things are a small sacrifice of what we truly became after the climb.  The experience, the process is even more important. 

From this climb the LM has learned much from the PAL Mountaineers and gained an insight in climbing etiquette.  But more importantly we have developed better relationships being with them.  Bonds between people are born because of this particular expedition and new friendships were formed with the PAL mountaineers.  The LM were their "bunso" group whom they looked after. 

The groups have shared more than just misery, but also the multitudes of stories (even beer too).  As we leave the climb, it is taken for granted that the 8 mountaineers have brought their own personal relationship with each other to a new level, a "I survived Mt. Pulag in 1998 with you" level.  And though it is unsaid there was the existence of these phrases unsaid in words but understood in action.  "You were my support.  You gave me strength to calm myself.  We don't master the mountain we master ourselves."  One really has to be a different kind of person to climb mountains and keep on doing it. 

So there was no heavenly view from the mountaintop but the trek were full wondrous things that make Mt. Pulag beautiful.  The "natural highs" of the mountain were bountiful.  If the peak was not so fabulous, there are many other instances when the world revealed a part of her beauty.  Like the rivers would tirelessly chant their song and though the wind and rain were biting, they performed a gorgeous dance for all that could look up to enjoy.  A favorite part is not on the peak but towards both the peak and the campsite-one is gifted with sight of rolling hills.  And it's mystical wonder and one cannot help but absorb the radiant aura of nature only Mt. Pulag could reward one with. 

And there something's that would not have been as good without the trying parts of the climb: Jaja's pasta dinner on the plateau, riding the top of the jeep, eating lunch on a jeep, breaking bread, eating meat, being passed around, eating Pizza and ordering water.  Returning to love ones for a brand new year. 

The climbers are also entitled to having one wish being granted a gift for climbing the mountain that is a pilgrimage.  I wonder what the eight goofy Loyola mountaineers asked for to prepare them for the year to come. 

Famous Quotes: 
"Don't mess with the bear-dude he's with me."-Harry 
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, whatever."-Jenny 
"If gets the job done, it gets the job done."-Gabby Narciso (after burning 
his face) 
Along the trail a bag was seen.  It was Harry's but Caloy stopped and asked 
"Anong ginagawa mo dyian?" 
Harry replied: "Nag ma mahjongg-ano pa kaya Caloy?" 
 
 

 
Photos by Ching-I-Wang 
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